RCMP Veterans’ Ladies Auxiliary (Vancouver Division) – December 2020/January 2021 Report

R.C.M.P. VETERANS’ LADIES AUXILIARY
(Vancouver Division)

BI-MONTLY REPORT
December 2020/January 2021

 

Well, here we are, entering a New Year, 2021, and still in the COVID-19 Epidemic!  It is frequently difficult to realize that it is almost a year since we held our last luncheon/meeting, and that most of us have not seen each other for a full year.  Hopefully, this will change by the summertime and we can plan for getting back to some sense of normalcy.  Obviously, our planned Fashion Show for March 2021 will not take place but we are still looking forward to staging this event at our luncheon/meeting in October 2021.  So far, we have not heard of any of our Ladies Auxiliary members contracting the virus, or having passed away from it.

Condolences:  We sadly report that the husband of Ladies Auxiliary Member, Edna Barr, Retired RCMP Veteran, #18984, Sgt. James (Jim) McMillan Barr, passed away in Delta, B.C. on December 4, 2020 at the age of 84.   He is also survived by a son and daughter, and their families.  Condolences have been sent to Edna and her family, and, due to the COVID-19, a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Vancouver Division’s Ladies Auxiliary’s 85th Birthday/Anniversary:  On February 26th, 2021, our Ladies Auxiliary officially celebrates its 85th year.  For some who may not know our history, in 1936, the President of the Vancouver Division  of the RCMP Veterans’ Association asked a few of the Veterans’ wives to form a Ladies Auxiliary to assist with the Veterans’ in their social activities, outreach projects, etc., and this auxiliary would consist of the wives and daughters of the R.C.M.P. Veterans.  In more recent years, the granddaughters of the Veterans were also included, as they are today.   This was the first R.C.M.P. Veterans’ Ladies Auxiliary officially formed in Canada.  Today, since 2018, all current members of the Vancouver Division of the Ladies Auxiliary are now also officially Associate Members of the Vancouver Veterans’ Division, although we still maintain our own Executive and luncheon/meetings, and financial status.

Documentation of RCMP Wives’ Stories:  Over the years, the Executive of the Auxiliary has been asking its Ladies Auxiliary members to consider contributing their stories of their lives as RCMP wives, living in remote detachments, overseas, Northern postings, etc.,   This can be in form of short story, essay, poem, or however one wishes to tell their story.  I am sure that those wives who have received awards for being “the second man” would have some great stories to share.   We have to remember that what we did 20 or 50 years ago will be “history” to those living as RCMP wives today, and in the future, and time has made many changes!!

Hopefully, all of our Auxiliary members will be receiving their inoculations with one of the available vaccines in the very near future, and Spring and Summer can’t arrive too soon!!

Dorothy Martinson, Past President
R.C.M.P. Veterans’ Ladies Auxiliary
(Vancouver Division)
demartinson@shaw.ca
(604) 261-4630